THE shocking
cost to our communities of fatherless families is revealed today.
Around 100
children lose some or all contact with their dads EVERY DAY thanks to cruel
and unfair laws which govern family breakdowns. The Sun,
backing Sir Bob Geldof, is campaigning for a change in the law to give both
parents equal rights of access. And we have
been contacted by hundreds of deprived dads whose corner we are fighting.
A survey by
the Civitas Think Tank found that fatherless families cause a rise in crime
and violence and more dependence on welfare.
It said
children living without their biological dads are more likely to live in
poverty and deprivation and to get in trouble at school. They have a
higher risk of health problems and of suffering physical, emotional or
sexual abuse and are more likely to run away from home.
Teenagers
living without their biological fathers are more likely to commit crime,
smoke, drink alcohol and take drugs, to play truant and to leave school at
16. Young adults
who grew up without their fathers are less likely to have qualifications or
jobs.
They are more
likely to have low incomes, be homeless, offend and go to jail. They are also
more likely to suffer from long-term health, emotional and psychological
problems and are more likely to divorce.
The
independent Family Matters Institute reckons the cost of family breakdowns
is up to £30billion — more than half what the Government spends on the NHS.
Hundreds of
fathers desperate to see their children have joined The Sun's Justice For
Dads campaign. More than one
million children in Britain will not be with their fathers this Christmas. Yesterday
four protesters dressed as Santa staged the latest desperate dads´ demo by
scaling Tower Bridge in London.
SIDEBAR:
Children deprived of contact with their natural fathers are more likely to:
Live in poverty.
Have trouble in school. Suffer bad health. Be sexually abused. Commit
crimes. Go to prison. Take drugs. Be unemployed. Earn less money.
Devastating
cost of this 'family' law
NOW tell us your stories. E-mail featurea@the-sun.co.uk or fax 020 7782 4063
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